A Trenton man admitted assaulting a federal agent with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Jabree Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on July 31, 2024, to an indictment charging him with one count each of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged.
According to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, documents filed in this case and statements made in court, federal law enforcement officers were investigating firearms trafficking and other illegal activities in and around Trenton and Hamilton, New Jersey.
On March 22, 2021, a federal law enforcement agent, working in an undercover capacity, arranged to purchase multiple firearms from an individual later identified as Johnson.
After arriving at an agreed-upon location for the firearms transaction, Johnson entered the undercover federal agent’s vehicle and handed the agent a black, semi-automatic firearm.
The undercover federal agent inspected the firearm and then returned it to Johnson and requested to see the other guns that Johnson had agreed to sell. Instead, Johnson pointed the loaded firearm directly at the undercover federal agent and demanded money from the agent.
The undercover federal agent provided Johnson with an amount of U.S. currency that the agent had on him to purchase the guns then the assailant ordered the lawman out of the vehicle at gunpoint.
The agent exited the vehicle as ordered and immediately drew a service-issued firearm and fired at Johnson, striking the defendant in the shoulder.
Johnson also fired his handgun multiple times at the undercover federal agent before he fled the area with the money.
Johnson was later identified at a local hospital as the individual who had assaulted and robbed the undercover federal agent at gunpoint and placed under arrest.
The charge of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of robbery of federal property with a dangerous weapon carries a maximum potential penalty of 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which was discharged, carries a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for January 16, 2025.
Johnson is a convicted felon who was released from the state prison system in 2020 after serving about three years on two firearm possession convictions from 2017, in Trenton.
Those prison terms resulted from plea bargains, including one case attempted to shoot a 56-year-old Trenton man after the victim got into an argument with Johnson. The round struck the victim’s car, but the man was not injured, police said.
Johnson was 20 when he was charged with attempted homicide, illegal gun possession, receiving stolen property, obstruction, and resisting arrest after a 34-year-old man was shot in Trenton and police caught Johnson in the passenger seat of a stolen Chevy Venture, driven by Derrick Smith, a few blocks away.
“On March 22, 2021, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were conducting a joint undercover investigation involving the purchase of handguns,” said Casey A. DeBlasio, a spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
“During the undercover transaction, the suspect pointed a handgun at an ATF special agent and demanded the money,” said DeBlasio. “During this robbery, the agent turned over United States currency and was ordered to exit the vehicle. The agent exited the vehicle, stepped toward the rear of the undercover vehicle, and fired his weapon at the armed suspect. The suspect also fired his weapon at the undercover agent and then exited the vehicle and fled on foot on Atlantic Avenue.”
“While fleeing on Atlantic Avenue, there was an additional exchange of gunfire,” said DeBlasio. “Minutes later, Jabree Johnson arrived at Capital Health Regional Medical Center with a non-fatal gunshot wound to the shoulder. Johnson was determined to be the suspect.”
“Johnson was charged with one count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon of an individual with custody of federal property, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in which the firearm was discharged,” said DeBlasio.